ZAMBOANGA CITY — Authorities intercepted six jungkong types of watercraft in two different coastal villages here loaded with 1,583 master cases of smuggled cigarettes worth P71.235 million.
The operation also led to the arrest of 29 crew members and placed them under investigation.

Bureau of Customs Zamboanga City district collector Segundo Barte Jr. disclosed that the six jungkong type watercrafts were intercepted in the coastal Barangay of Labuan and another at the coastal site of RT in Boulevard here on Wednesday.

Barte said a Maritime Interdiction Operation was conducted by Naval Forces Western Mindanao through its Naval Task Force-61 Units composed of Navy SEALS and Intelligence Operatives and BoC agents.

The authorities subjected the six jungkongs identified as M/J RAMILA 3: M/J RAMILA 5: M/J BREENA 1: M/J BREENA 2: M/J BREENA 3 and M/B Mernalyn to Visit Board Search and Seizure while traversing the seawaters off Labuan in this city.

When authorities demanded the documents to transport the tobacco leave products, no one from the 29 crew members was able to present them, prompting the authorities to seize all the cargo and place under interrogation the crew members.

Barte said that M/J Ramila 3 was loaded with 275 master cases of assorted cigarettes worth P12.375 million; M/J Ramila 5 was loaded with 593 master cases of the assorted brands of cigarettes worth P 26.685 million; M/J Breena 1 with 398 master cases of assorted cigarettes worth P 17.91 million; M/J Breena 2 with 236 master cases of assorted cigarettes worth P 10.62 million; M/J Breena 3 with 322 master cases of assorted cigarettes worth 14.49 million and M/B Mernalyn with 72 master cases worth P3.24 million.

A master case of smuggled cigarettes are sold at P45,000 in public markets.

Barte identified the skipper of M/B Mernalyn as Mawudan Lawana, a resident of Jolo, Sulu while his 13 crew members were identified as Narimuddin Hasid, Midzfar Alibasa, Omra Daniyel, Musa Jama, Albasari Jailani, Alnajal Mubin, Jobel Mara, Al Danial, Rahsi Ari, Almojib Upi, Sikal Sali, Munil Mujakil and Abduka Tungkil.

M/B Mernalyn allegedly came from Jolo, Sulu and was bound for Baliwasan Seaside here for distribution at the local public markets here.